Numerical Modeling of Hydrodynamics, Water quality and Sediment Transport in Lake of the Woods

Session: 47. - Physical Processes in Lakes

Reza Valipour, Environment and Climate Change Canada, valipour.r@gmail.com
Jun Zhao, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Government of Canada, jun.zhao2@canada.ca
Isaac Wong, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Isaac.Wong@Canada.ca
Luis Leon, Environment Canada, luis.leon@ec.gc.ca
Tim Pascoe, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Government of Canada, tim.pascoe@canada.ca
Arthur Zastepa, Environment and Climate Change Canada, arthur.zastepa@canada.ca
Ram Yerubandi, Environment Canada, Water Sciences & Technology, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, ram.yerubandi@canada.ca

Abstract

Lake of the Woods is a binational (Canada-US) multi-basin water body with more than 14,000 islands. The seasonal water level in the lake is regulated at Kenora and Norman dams, and during the summer the water quality in lake is significantly affected by seasonal algal blooms. We use high-resolution three-dimensional numerical models to simulate lake-wide hydrodynamics, water quality and sediment transport, and describe the potential impacts of various physical processes on lake-wide nutrient distributions. These models use spatially variable observed winds from bi-national stations, Rainy river inflows and Kenora and Norman dams’ outflows, and are initialized using observed hydrodynamic and water quality profiles across the lake. The accuracies of model results are examined using extensive field observations. Based on the results, we show seasonal lake-wide water circulations, nutrient dynamics, and sediment transport. We also identify hot spots where the shoreline erosion and internal loading can potentially add more nutrients to the lake.

1. Keyword
hydrodynamic model

2. Keyword
water quality

3. Keyword
sediment transport

4. Additional Keyword
Lake of the Woods